Thank you for reading. I just thought of a new twist I could write and this is the result. Please let me know your thoughts.
Steph POV
I wake up to another nightmare, but out of self preservation I do not open my eyes. God, even in death this woman nags me. "Stephanie Michelle Plum, you need to wake up. I am starting to think you are doing this for attention. It has been three weeks!" What has been three weeks? Oh good, she keeps nagging.
"You have been in a coma since the accident with the meat truck. You will be happy to know that Joseph was exonerated and your father said that Vincent is giving you the fees you earned for the capture or whatever it is called." What?
"Now you can move out of that horrible apartment and get some respectable clothes." He was supposed to pay me you harpy! I am moving out, but not like she thinks. Is this hell?
"I have taken the liberty of telling Vincent that you quit. I invited Joseph over to dinner when you are feeling up to it." Thank you, and I do want to quit. I have plans of taking a different job. Nope I am not spending my death on Joe Morelli. Having him in my life already killed me once. No thank you.
"He is a police detective and he would make a fine addition to the family. I heard from Valerie and she is doing just fine with her husband and two girls. When will you realize that you could be just as happy? I am willing to forgive you for that scandal with Richard. I guess you will just have to try harder this time."
She has some nerve! Is this real? Could I have wished and it came true? Wow, if I am at a point in my life where it is just after I captured Joe; that is great! How would this be possible? She is still droning on.
"The doctors said nothing is wrong with you that they could find, but maybe you have a concussion or something. I am leaving. I will be back to visit you tomorrow, Stephanie. If I am not home by dinner time, your grandmother will wear an outlandish outfit and embarrass me." The door opens and closes.
Suddenly, I feel like an electric surge in the room and I could smell Christmas cookies. I felt a body next to me and my hand is taken. "I know you are awake, Steph." I open my eyes and see Diesel. "How is this possible, Diesel?" He smiles sadly.
"I watched over you, little one and saved your life a few times when the beatings got too bad. I finally got the approval to give you a do over. You have to promise me that you will not make those horrible choices again and that you will never give up." Oh my god!
"What about people I could help because I know what could happen to them?" He shakes his head.
"You can only change your own life. You may give hints to people, but you cannot tell them about this. I gotta go, but I will be watching you. You are stronger than you think, Steph. Do not give up like that again. Company's coming." As suddenly as he came, he was gone.
I felt a tingle and I could smell Bulgari. Ranger was here. He stood by the bed and stared at me. "Should I get the doctors, Babe?" I shake my head and try to fight back tears, but they roll down my face anyway.
He approaches and hands me a tissue from the box on the nightstand. "Can I see a mirror?" He hands me one out of the bathroom and I look at myself. I look like me again and I am younger. Of course, dummy! More tears run down my face. I take another tissue. Ranger looks nervous. Get yourself together, Stephanie! He starts talking.
"I came to see you this morning, but you were asleep. The doctors said you were restless, Babe. How are you feeling?" I smile at him. Oh, he is gorgeous. I try to remember how close we were at this point before, and I recall that it was not very. We had a kiss and some flirtation and he had rescued me from the shower. I don't care. I am doing this differently.
"I feel okay, Batman. Do not call the doctors in yet, please. Why are you visiting me so often?" He smiles.
"Babe." Nope I was not letting him get away with that any more.
"Tell me Batman." He smiles a tiny little bit.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright and I wanted to congratulate you on bringing in Morelli. Vinnie says you quit, but you were unconscious at the time, so I wanted to check with you. If you quit, you do not need my help anymore." What? I would always need him.
"Actually, Ranger, I did not quit, but I think that bounty hunting is not for me." He frowns a little, so I keep talking.
"I really liked the mystery, you know? I found that I enjoyed putting together clues and doing research. I am surprisingly good at that. I did not enjoy the shooting or the threats and all of that, but the research side of it was fun and I am a people person. I should do something with my degree." His smile is back. Well, his version of a smile. He moves closer to me.
"Babe, maybe I can still train you, but you would not be a BEA anymore. Would you consider working and doing research for my company?" I hold in my squee. I stare at him and take his hand.
"What are the benefits?" I pretend to play hardball. He holds my hand in his for a long moment then lets go.
He goes to the door and comes back. He sits next to the bed and hands me a bag. Oh my Lord. He brought me Ella food.
"I brought you dinner. The doctors said your restlessness was a sign that you would wake up soon. I know hospital food is horrible." He hands me chicken noodle soup and bread while he eats a grilled chicken salad. I moan at how good the homemade soup is and he just stares at me.
"Babe." Heh heh. I know this means, please stop turning me on.
"Besides food, the job pays well and there is a company car, physical training, you must carry a gun and there are apartments in the building, Babe." You forgot you, Batman.
He smiles wider. "I did not forget me, Babe. I am glad you consider me a benefit." I just laugh. I had learned to stop speaking my thoughts a long time ago with Joe. It feels so good to be me again.
"Of course I consider you a benefit, Batman. So, can I call you Ricky?" He laughs out loud this time.
"Babe, my sisters call me Ricky. You can call me Carlos, though. I would like that." We stare at each other until a throat is cleared.
Tank steps into the room. "Yo, Rangeman, her granny is here. The guys said she is in the lobby talking to people and she will be up here soon. I am not getting groped again, man. Hello, Miss Plum. It is nice to see you awake." I smile at the gentle giant. Tank is a big softy deep down.
I wave." Thanks for watching the door, Tank. Please do not tell people I am awake. I need to have an exit strategy before my mother comes back." He nods and closes the door.
I turn back to Ranger. "Fine, I will take the job, the apartment and I will call you Carlos. I desperately need to get out of here before the end of the night. I want to change my phone number as well. If you do your magic and help me with this, I will owe you." He just smiles at me.
"So you are saying that you will work for me, you want me to help you move and you want me to kidnap you from the hospital, Babe and you will owe me a favor?" Yup.
I nod at him. "Yes. I will wash your cars or walk your dogs or do your taxes or something." He laughs out loud again.
"Babe, I have people who do those things. I don't have any dogs. You can help me by going to dinner at my parent's house this weekend with me. If you go, then Mama will not match make for me and you can meet my sisters and tell them you saw me laugh. They tell me I am turning into a robot."
Wow, a chance to meet his family and he smiles at me so much! How did I miss this before? Oh, right. The asshat paid attention to me and I thought that was what I wanted. No more Stupid Stephanie.
"Does your mother cook with guilt?" He grinned and ate more of his salad.
"Yes, but her tres leche cake is worth it. I can make a few calls, Babe, but you will need to tell people the deal or it will just stir up more problems." He was right. I will tell my mother and father at the same time.
"Thanks. You better leave so Gram can visit with me. Maybe she would like my apartment. I don't want the furniture. I just want my clothes and shoes and pictures. I am so glad you came to see me, Carlos. I don't even know what day it is right now or where my purse and all of that is."
He tucks a curl behind my ear and kisses my forehead. "I am glad I came to see you, too. Ella made me come every day or she would not cook for the guys. I thought I should stay away and wait, but she said nonsense, and that you are my friend. Am I your friend, Babe?" He is adorable like this. I don't know what it is about hospitals, but apparently they make Batman loquacious. I laughed a little thinking about Ranger being a Chatty Cathy.
I smile. "Yes, I am your friend, Carlos. Think about getting a dog." He grins at me and shakes his head.
"Now chop chop. I will let you rescue me from here tonight and maybe you can show me how to run more than a few blocks without losing a lung." He laughed again and cleaned up our trash.
"I will be back later, Babe. Take care until then." Wow. Is this really happening? Why didn't I ever just talk to him like he was a person before? Well, I did, but by the time I got really comfortable with him, I was all tied up in Morelli. I cannot stand that man, especially since I know what he becomes. No thank you.
The door closes and I hear a yelp and then it opens with a flourish to show Gram. I was so thrilled to see her! I know she will help me with my plans. She notices my eyes are open and she rushes across the room. This was gonna be great.
